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MDHHS, LARA Issue New, Revised Rules to Combat Opioid Crisis

Posted on January 11, 2019

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) have issued new and revised rules as part of the ongoing effort to fight Michigan’s opioid crisis.

The MDHHS emergency rules require hospitals to report opioid overdose statistics upon request. The rules are meant to inform the public health response to the substantial increase in cases of prescription and illicit drug overdoses. The MDHHS has released a set of Frequently Asked Questions relating to the emergency rules and the development of a permanent rule.

Gabapentin was added to the schedule 5 drug list as a controlled substance.

A one-time opioid and controlled substance awareness training will be required for all individuals who are currently licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances, or those seeking such a license. The requirements specified in this rule apply to controlled substance license renewals beginning with the first renewal cycle after Jan. 4, 2019, and for initial licenses issued after Sept. 1, 2019. Specific training standards are outlined on pages 26-27 of the final rules.

Exceptions have been established to the bona fide prescriber-patient relationship requirement, such as in a medical emergency or when a prescriber is providing on-call coverage or cross coverage for another prescriber. Additional information about the exceptions was sent to MHA members Jan. 10.

Members with questions about MDHHS emergency rules and/or the FAQs should contact Sarah Lyon-Callo in the Bureau of Epidemiology and Population Health at (517) 284-2910. Members with questions about the revised rules from LARA can contact (517) 241-0199 or BPLHELP@michigan.gov.